If it wasn't for Roon announcing that KEF LS50W's were now Roon enabled I wouldn't have given them much thought. They are supposedly based on the legendary Rogers LS3/5A (designed by the BBC). There is a separate passive version too.

Press reviews are very favourable.

For a little shy of the price of a pair of DSP3200's, the LS50W's sport twin 200w Class D LF and 30w Class AB HF amps, Uni-Q drivers, DSP Crossovers, twin 24/192 DACS, and twin pre-amps. Unlike most other active speakers, both units are active (rather than one active plus one passive).

Inputs include USB, optical, coax, phono, and, ethernet. Each unit is linked with a supplied Cat6 cable. There is a subwoofer output too. They can be used wirelessly or hard-wired to your home network.

Compared to the DSP3200's, I wouldn't have to buy a Meridian DSW, AC200, nor MS200 and QNAP - as I can utilise existing kit. That makes buying the LS50W's a bit of a bargain by comparison.

I have a pair of the LS50w’s I like them a lot and the recent Roon integration makes their setup and use even easier, I run mine off Devolo 650 adapters and have had no issues.

I do not run a sub as I find no need in my environment others I know do use a sub and are happy with the integration, firmware updates are a little clunky although clearly explained in the update utility which is available for Mac and Windows.

In addition to the inputs you mention you have wireless and Bluetooth, not when set to wireless the Ethernet connection is also live and this is how Roon connects.

Roon integration is a double win option for me: I could either utilise Roon streaming to my SBT/Meridian Director - or ignore Roon altogether and utilise Amarra SQ+ for streaming from my Mac to the LS50W's.

My sitting room is very, very dark grey, Farrow & Ball Downpipe (colour, not their awful paint!) with copper and brass fittings, so the original black and copper versions would fit in there, but not available in the wireless/active version.

My wife called my 5200s 'The Daleks'. She hated them. I guess the Kefs are 'making a statement' with their colour scheme, but I can see a lot of people (dare I say women?) not buying unless 'the statement' fits in with the room's overall theme.

To be honest, if the Kefs had been released with the ability to choose which was right/left (which of course they now have), then I may have bought them instead of the DSP3200s that I did buy. They certainly are pretty flexible. I do like the 3200s though.

The KEF site has a designer inspired pair dark with a rather modernistic pattern that looked quite attractive vs the white with copper drivers until I scrolled down and the pattern is glow in the dark.

My grand children would like them along with the galaxies stuck to their bedroom ceilings, but not my living room thanks. Bit of a shame because they have a reputation for sounding pretty good.